Credentialing with SimplePractice: Part 2 - Submitting payer applications

Credentialing applications are submitted from your SimplePractice account using information imported from CAQH. Applications are available for purchase and can be used for one submission. 

Important: Early Access customers with solo practices will be able to submit applications directly in SimplePractice starting October 22, 2026. This feature will become more broadly available to solo practices in the coming weeks. 

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• Importing your license and practice information
• Completing your credentialing profile 
• Purchasing credentialing credits
• Submitting an application
• FAQs

Note: Use this guide when you’re ready to submit credentialing applications through SimplePractice. See Part 1 for an overview of what’s required and Part 3 for what to expect after you submit your applications.

Importing your license and practice information

After attesting your CAQH profile is up to date, you can import it to SimplePractice. This is required to create the credentialing profile you’ll use to submit applications.

To do this: 

1. Navigate to Settings > Client billing and insurance > Payers and credentialing > Credentialing
2. Click Get credentialed

3. Select Yes to confirm you have a complete and attested CAQH profile
4. Click Submit and continue

5. Enter your practice name, license type, individual NPI, and CAQH ID 

6. Click Submit and continue

Completing your credentialing profile 

When your CAQH import is complete, click View profile to review what was carried over. 

To begin the credentialing process, your Practice info must be complete. 

Other steps, such as Documentation and Agreements, may be incomplete following the CAQH import. You can complete these during the application process. 

Note: Payer requirements vary, and you may be asked to return to your SimplePractice credentialing profile later in the application process to complete additional documentation.

Purchasing credentialing credits

With your CAQH profile imported, you can begin purchasing credentialing credits. Credits are $149 each and are required to submit payer applications. 

To purchase a credit:

1. Navigate to Settings > Client billing and insurance > Payers and credentialing > Credentialing
2. Click Buy more

3. Adjust the quantity of how many you’d like to purchase and click Continue

4. Review your total and click Confirm
   • Credits will be charged to the card used for your SimplePractice subscription fees

Important: Credentialing credits can’t be refunded, even if they’re accidentally submitted to the wrong payer. If you’re not sure which payer to select when submitting an application, reach out to our team.

Submitting an application

To submit an application: 

1. Navigate to Settings > Client billing and insurance > Payers and credentialing > Credentialing
2. Click View profile

3. Go to the Payer selection step

4. Use the search bar to find the payer and complete the required fields
5. Select Provider for the Enrollment type

6. Click Save
7. Review the selection and click Submit application and continue

8. Follow on-screen instructions to complete any missing steps in your credentialing profile 

The payer may request additional information when processing your application. If this happens, you’ll need to return to your credentialing profile and complete the required tasks. 

Once your application is submitted, see Credentialing with SimplePractice: Part 3 - What to expect after submitting your applications for next steps. 

FAQs

• Is there a limit to how many applications I can submit? 
• What is required when submitting a credentialing application?
• Should I submit multiple applications at once?
• What if I entered my information incorrectly?
• Which lines of business should I select?
• Why do some payers require Medicare or Medicaid contracts?
• What are panel closures?

Is there a limit to how many applications I can submit? 

There’s no limit to how many applications you can submit. If you’ve used all your credentialing credits, you’ll need to buy more before submitting additional applications. 

What is required when submitting a credentialing application?

We’ll import as much required information from your CAQH profile as possible, including:

• License information
• Practice information
• Professional history
• Additional documentation, such as your license and W-9

You can manually add any required information that wasn’t imported by clicking View profile on the Credentialing page.

Should I submit multiple applications at once?

If you’ve purchased multiple applications, you can submit more than one at a time. Every application will use the information in your credentialing profile.

What if I entered my information incorrectly?

Credentialing applications typically take 60-120 days to process, and errors may cause additional delays. If you notice a mistake after submitting your application, contact our team as soon as possible. 

If you notice the mistake while the application's status in the Credentialing page is Requested or Application review, we may be able to correct it before it's sent to the payer. Once the payer receives your application, any corrections will require restarting the processing timeline. 

Which lines of business should I select?

When applying to certain commercial payers, you may be asked to select one of the following lines of business:

• Commercial 
• Medicare (including Medicare Advantage) 
• Medicaid (including Managed Medicaid) 

If you aren’t directly contracted with Medicare or Medicaid, or you only want to join the payer’s commercial plans, select Commercial.

Why do some payers require Medicare or Medicaid contracts?

Some payers, such as Molina and Aetna Better Health, require existing Medicare or Medicaid contracts, even if this isn't indicated in the payer's name. Only select these payers if you're already credentialed with Medicare or Medicaid in that state. You’ll also need to add your provider ID, effective date, and revalidation date to your Credentialing profile. 

If you don’t have a Medicare or Medicaid contract yet, you’ll need to apply for one directly through Medicare or Medicaid. Once you have your contract details, you can then request these payer options through SimplePractice. 

Direct credentialing with Medicare or Medicaid through SimplePractice isn’t available at this time.

What are panel closures?

Some insurance payers stop accepting new providers into their network. This is known as a panel closure, and it can happen for various reasons. 

While SimplePractice has no say in whether a panel decides to close, we do our best to highlight payers at higher risk of panel closure when you submit your application. 

See the table below for payers known to have higher rates of panel closures and their contact information. 

When submitting an application to one of these payers, we recommend:

1. Contacting the payer using the information in the table before submitting your application
2. Confirming who manages the payer's behavioral health network
   • If a separate company, such as Optum, manages the behavioral health network, contact them to confirm next steps
3. Asking if the panel is currently open to providers from your state with your speciality 
4. Asking about anticipated closure timelines